Page 99 of A Reckless Memory

Epilogue

AGGIE

Nerves fluttered through my stomach. I hitched up the hem of my gauzy white skirt and admired my boots, remembering when I did this once long ago. This time, I was in a different state. Different house. Different room. Different dress. Same boots. My dress was a wispy, western-style wedding gown. Loose and casual. Me.

Tex was chewing on a rib bone in the corner, more mellow than he was then.

I had picked the same date. No more getting lost in movies and ice cream on June the second.

Sutton was with me again, but I’d told her to wear whatever was comfortable. She was in a yellow sundress with daisies, her hair in a braid circling her head. Her pacing around my bedroom was different than last time, but the divorce between her and Wilder wasn’t complete, and this would be the first time they were together since she’d served him papers.

She was already living in Crocus Valley and starting her own vet practice. Dr. Jake had tried to talk her into joining him, probably in more than one way, but she’d declined, at least with the business—I didn’t want to know about the rest. She claimed Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company had dictated her career for too long for her to sign any power over to someone else.

Wilder was talking to me again, as much as he was talking to anyone. After I’d called him, told him the divorce sucked, and while I was Sutton’s friend, I was his sister and would never want to see him hurting, he’d grudgingly admitted he wondered if I encouraged her. If he needed to be angry at someone, he should look in the mirror. I hadn’t said that. Maybe I should’ve.

Meg was gone, but I had another sister-in-law supporting me, and she supported me, not who she thought I should be. Laney was reclining on the made bed—Ansen’s doing—also in a yellow sundress with daisies. She and Sutton had come up with the cohesive look despite my “whatever.” Her feet hung off the end and her sandals dangled from her feet, chill. No nerves, which Sutton and I needed.

I’d gotten to know Laney more over the last few months. She was refreshingly down to earth with a blunt edge I appreciated. I would always miss Meg, but Laney’s refreshing acceptance of me, however I came, was welcome.

Vienne poked her head in. “Just letting you know everything’s set, and the kids are good.” She gave us an excited thumbs-up before scurrying away.

Laney smirked. “I can’t believe she offered to watch the kids so I could stand up for you.” Archer was the best man. “Can you have another wedding tomorrow?”

“It’s already my second,” I joked.

“Technically, the first one didn’t happen,” Sutton pointed out.

“This one’s already better.” I searched for my phone to check the time.

“Twenty minutes,” Sutton answered for me and pointed to my phone on the dresser behind me. In plain sight.

I was a little nervous. Residual trauma didn’t just vanish.

Shaking my hands, I tried to rid myself of my anxiety. I was ecstatic to be marrying the man of my dreams, but I’d be relieved when this day ended drama-free with a set of “I dos.”

The delighted screeches of the nieces and nephews drifted in from outside. With Ansen’s family, there were as many people as the last time we were going to get married, but this time the guests weren’t only my family members or nosy townsfolk. The only people at today’s event were family and friends. I didn’t need to show off to anyone.

“I can’t tell you how proud Allan is to be standing up for Ansen with Archer.” Laney grinned. “I told Archer we need to renew our vows so he can be a part of our wedding.” She grimaced, looking sheepish. “And Ansen. And the rest of our families. That’s what we get for eloping.”

“I’m so glad Allan moved to North Dakota.” Ansen would’ve lived with me anyway, but his dad would’ve weighed on his mind, and our visits to Texas would’ve always felt too short and infrequent. Ansen’s dad lived in the trailer, at first insisting he’d find his own place, but we told him I’d have to sell it and have it hauled out if someone wasn’t living there. I didn’t need a trailer-house-sized mouse nest on my property.

“He’s having such a good time,” Laney said. “Archer and I are both so glad he moved. My parents aren’t warm and fuzzy, so the kids get a grandparent who can’t seem to be around them enough.”

I chuckled. Seeing Ansen’s dad with the kids made me excited to see him with ours. Allan was like another, slightly more responsible, kid. He’d relocated shortly after Ansen and I returned to Crocus Valley. Archer had helped him sell his home and land, refusing to accept any commission. Working cattle was no longer a job when he got to help Archer—refusing payment. He spent his off time bullshitting with locals, guys he’d grown up with and his siblings at Coal Haven’s diner, and getting to know his nieces and nephews and their kids. He adored spoiling his grandkids.

He also spent a ton of time at the rescue. I’d hired him part time—refusing to accept his offer to work for free. The guy was an animal magnet like his son. Horses loved him. The chickens laid more eggs when he was around. Laney bought the ducks to add to her egg business. And he got a kick out of the pigs.

Truth be told, Allan had filled a father figure role for me in the short time he’d been here. He loved listening to my plans, constantly gushing about the house I’d built and what I was doing with the rescue. He told everyone about how he raised two sons and now he gets to have two daughters.

Sutton finally perched on the end of the bed. She waved her finger from my boots to my dress. “Something old, something new. Do you have your something borrowed, something blue?”

“The hair clip is Laney’s.” My twist was loose and simple, letting several curly strands frame my face. I snapped my fingers, letting the hem of the dress drop. “Oh—the blue bandanna is in the living room.” Ansen and I had a little blindfolded fun the other night with my makeshift garter.

Heat swamped my body. We’d have even more fun tonight.

“I can grab it,” she offered, but fear was written over her features. The thought of an awkward run-in with Wilder kept her in place.

Laney was about to get up, but I waved them off. “I got it.”

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